Communicative Styles: Frozen, Formal, Consultative, Casual, Intimate

The Learning Corner

29 Sept 202108:58

Summary

TLDRThis educational video script delves into the significance of communication, highlighting its role in fostering understanding and preventing conflicts. It introduces five distinct communicative styles: Frozen, Formal, Consultative, Casual, and Intimate, each suited for various social contexts. The script explains the characteristics of each style and provides examples of their usage, emphasizing the importance of choosing the appropriate style to avoid misunderstandings and ensure effective interaction.

Takeaways

🗣️ Communication is a process of exchanging information through symbols, signs, or behavior.
🤝 It helps in understanding, expressing feelings, views, and opinions, and brings people closer.
🚫 Effective communication can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
🔍 There are five communicative styles: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate.
❄️ Frozen style is the most formal, used in respectful situations or ceremonies with fixed language.
📜 Formal style is used in professional settings, characterized by established rules and impersonal nature.
🤔 Consultative style is semi-formal, involving two-way participation and listener feedback.
👫 Casual style is used among friends and insiders, featuring group language and informality.
💑 Intimate style is for very close relationships, marked by significant non-verbal communication.
🧩 Knowing different communicative styles helps in choosing the right approach for various situations.

Q & A

What is communication according to Webster's dictionary?
-Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
Why is communication important in our daily interactions?
-Communication is important because it helps people understand each other, express feelings, views, and opinions, brings people together, avoids misunderstandings, and is crucial for building friendships and healthy relationships.
What impact does the way we communicate have on our interactions with others?
-The way we communicate significantly influences how we talk and deal with people, and it can solve problems or lead to misunderstandings and conflicts if not done properly.
What are the five communicative styles mentioned in the script?
-The five communicative styles are frozen, formal, consultative, casual or informal, and intimate style.
In which situations is the frozen speech style typically used?
-The frozen speech style is used in respectful situations or formal ceremonies such as the pledge of allegiance, taking an oath, holy mass, religious rites and rituals, and formal ceremonies like Shakespearean plays, weddings, and funerals.
What are the characteristics of the formal communicative style?
-The formal style is characterized by the use of formal words and expressions, conforms to established professional rules and standards, and is often seen in writing rather than speaking. It is used in situations like job interviews, meetings, welcome addresses, announcements, dinner parties, prestigious ceremonies, and academic papers.
How does the consultative style differ from the formal style?
-The consultative style is used in semi-formal communication, involves two-way participation, and includes listener participation and feedback. It is characterized by shorter and more spontaneous sentences compared to the formal style.
What are some examples of situations where the casual or informal style is used?
-The casual or informal style is used in conversations between friends and insiders, when talking and hanging out with friends and relatives, and when sending text messages. It involves the use of contractions, slang words, and simplified grammar.
What is the intimate communicative style and how is it characterized?
-The intimate style is used in conversations between people who are very close and have a maximum of shared background information. It is characterized by an economy of words, significant non-verbal communication, and no social boundaries among the speakers.
Why is it important to know the different communicative styles?
-Knowing the different communicative styles is important to understand the specific approach that should be used in every situation, person, and place, which can help prevent misunderstandings and arguments.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Introduction to Communicative Styles

This paragraph introduces the concept of communication as a process of exchanging information through symbols, signs, or behavior. It emphasizes the importance of communication in understanding, expressing feelings, views, and opinions, as well as in bringing people together and preventing misunderstandings. The paragraph also outlines different communicative styles identified by Martin Joos, a linguist and German professor, which include frozen, formal, consultative, casual or informal, and intimate styles. Each style is characterized by its formality and is suited to specific occasions, places, and types of interactions.

05:02

📜 Detailed Analysis of Communicative Styles

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of each communicative style. The frozen style is described as the most formal, used in respectful situations and ceremonies, characterized by fixed language and complex grammar. Formal style is for professional settings, avoiding slang and using structured language. Consultative style is semi-formal, engaging listeners with background information and continuous participation. Casual or informal style is used among friends and insiders, featuring group-specific language and relaxed grammar. The intimate style is reserved for very close relationships, marked by minimal verbal communication and significant non-verbal cues. The paragraph concludes by stressing the importance of understanding these styles to prevent disrespect and miscommunication.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Communication

Communication is defined as the process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. In the video, communication is emphasized as crucial for understanding each other, expressing feelings, views, and opinions, and for bringing people together. It is also highlighted as a tool to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, and to solve problems, which underscores its importance in building friendships and healthy relationships.

💡Communicative Styles

Communicative styles refer to the different ways in which people communicate based on the level of formality, the occasion, and the people involved. The video discusses five styles: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate. Understanding these styles is essential for effective communication as it helps in choosing the appropriate approach for different situations, people, and places.

💡Frozen Speech Style

The frozen speech style, also known as fixed speech, is the most formal communicative style. It is characterized by fixed and static language, long sentences, and a command of grammar. This style is used in respectful situations or formal ceremonies like the pledge of allegiance, taking an oath, holy mass, and religious rituals. It is the highest form of communicative style, often using complex grammatical structures and vocabulary known only by experts.

💡Formal Communicative Style

The formal communicative style is used in professional settings and conforms to established rules, standards, and processes. It avoids slang and uses formal words and expressions. This style is more rigid and is often seen in writing rather than speaking. It is used in situations like job interviews, meetings, welcome addresses, announcements, and prestigious ceremonies, where a straightforward and impersonal conversation is required.

💡Consultative Style

The consultative style, also called the third level of language, is used in semi-formal communication. It involves two-way participation with shorter and more spontaneous sentences. The speaker supplies background information, and the listener participates continuously. This style is used in regular classroom discussions, doctor-patient conversations, lawyer-client discussions, and small group discussions, where listener participation and feedback are key.

💡Casual or Informal Style

The casual or informal style is used in conversations among friends and insiders who share background information. It uses group language that may not be understood by everyone and allows for a free and easy participation of both speaker and listener. This style is characterized by implicitness due to the intimacy between the speaker and listener. It is commonly used in everyday conversations with friends and relatives, as well as in text messages, where contractions, slang words, and simplified grammar are often employed.

💡Intimate Style

The intimate style is used in conversations between people who are very close and have a maximum of shared background information. It is characterized by an economy of words and a high incidence of significant non-verbal communication, such as gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. This style is usually done in private and shows no social boundaries among the speakers. It is used in situations like expressing love to a significant other, sharing secrets with friends and family, and asking for advice on serious matters.

💡Non-verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication refers to the use of gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and other body language to convey messages. In the context of the intimate communicative style, non-verbal communication plays a significant role, as it complements the limited verbal communication and helps express emotions and intentions more effectively.

💡Misunderstandings

Misunderstandings occur when communication is not clear or is not properly understood. The video emphasizes the importance of communication in avoiding misunderstandings and conflicts. By choosing the appropriate communicative style and being mindful of how and what we communicate, we can prevent misinterpretations and foster better relationships.

💡Slang

Slang refers to informal language characterized by colloquial expressions and idioms. In the video, slang is mentioned as a feature of the casual or informal communicative style, where it is used among friends and insiders who share a common understanding of the terms. Slang can create a sense of camaraderie but may not be appropriate in formal or professional settings.

💡Shared Background Information

Shared background information is the common knowledge or experiences that people have, which influences the way they communicate. The video mentions that the intimate and casual communicative styles rely on a high degree of shared background information, allowing for more implicit and nuanced communication. This shared context enables more efficient and meaningful exchanges among people who are closely related or familiar with each other.

Highlights

Communication is defined as the exchange of information between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.

Communication is crucial for understanding each other, expressing feelings, views, and opinions.

Effective communication helps bring people together and avoids misunderstandings and conflicts.

Different communicative styles have a significant impact on how we interact and deal with people.

Martin Joos identified five communicative styles: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate.

Frozen speech style is the most formal and is used in respectful situations or formal ceremonies.

Formal communicative style adheres to professional rules and standards, avoiding slang and informal language.

Consultative style is semi-formal, featuring two-way participation and listener feedback.

Casual or informal style is used among friends and insiders, characterized by group language and implicitness.

Intimate style is for very close relationships and is marked by significant non-verbal communication.

Knowing different communicative styles helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures respectful communication.

Frozen speech style uses complex grammatical structures and vocabulary known only by experts.

Formal style is more common in writing and is used in job interviews, meetings, and academic papers.

Consultative style is ideal for regular classroom discussions and professional-client conversations.

Casual style includes the use of contractions, slang, and simplified grammar in conversations with friends and family.

Intimate style is used in private settings and shows no social boundaries among speakers.

Understanding communicative styles is essential for appropriate communication in various situations.